Another Alias - Baron/Fraser

[trish1]

Marriage 1871 Kenneth McDonald 27 parents Donald Mc Donald farmer (decd) Anna McDonald M.S. Barron (married Little Dunkeld Perth)

1881 Scotland Perth Dunkeld Caputh 349 ED2 P2 Bridge St (East side)
Kenneth McDonald 38 head Croy, Inverness Chemist & Druggist & Postmaster emp 2 boys
Maria McDonald 30 wife England Chemist's wife
..... children

1851 Scotland Inverness Croy 94 ED3 P 15 Dalcross Mains
Donald MacDonald 51 head Kirkhill, Inverness, Farmer 40 Ac emp 3 lab
Ann MacDonald 52 wife do do Farmers wife
John MacDonald 29 son Applecross, Ross farmers son
... children
Kenneth MacDonald 8 son Croy scholar
Hugh MacDonald 6 son do do

IGI extracted marriage DONALD MCDONALD Spouse ANN BARRON Marriage FEB 1821 Dores, Inverness, Scotland
Baptism of first child 03/01/1822 MCDONALD JOHN DONALD MCDONALD/ANN FRASER OR BARON FR264 APPLECROSS /ROSS AND CROMARTY 058/ 0020 0012 - the actual baptism says Ann Fraser alias Baron
All others incl Kenneth 02/11/1842 MACDONALD KENNETH DONALD MACDONALD/ANNE FRASER M CROY AND DALCROSS /INVERNESS 094/ 0020 0084

Most likely baptism for mother Ann (which raises a query on her age when Kenneth and Hugh were born)
IGI ANNE BARON Birth 02 AUG 1795 Kirkhill, Inverness, Scotland Father JOHN BARON Mother MARY FRASER
Baptism says John Baron and his spouse Mary Fraser.

John Baron and Mary Fraser had a number of children. I haven't yet found a marriage for them in the OPRs

Why the alias? Why did son Kenneth use the name Baron when his mother used the name Fraser. Do I have all the right family?

thanks

Trish

[LesleyB]

Hi Trish
These was a question posted about the use of an alias recently - don't know if that is of any help.
viewtopic.php?f=8&t=14729

It is amybe a bit early in the morning for me - still on cup of tea, so may not be quite with it...

Why did son Kenneth use the name Baron when his mother used the name Fraser. Do I have all the right family?

When did Kenneth use the surname Baron? Do you mean when he gave the name of his mother? If it was one of the "highland" type aliases then my guess would be that she was known as both, but I've not seens a great many examples of the use of these aliases, so open to suggestion....!

Best wishes
Lesley

[trish1]

Thanks Lesley, I did see your other post, but thought this one was somewhat different. I can see no reason for Ann to revert to her mother's maiden name, or her son to revert to her married name - there probably was a reason in times past - but at the minute I can't find it.

Trish

[LesleyB]

Hi Trish

All I can think of to add is that often in Scotland women retain their maiden names even when married. So maybe Ann's mother retained her maiden name so Ann was as familiar with it as her father's surname and used one or the other?

It may make a difference if, for instance, Ann's mother's family were well known in a particular area either because they were a long established family with a good name or because they owned land or similar, in which case it may be more advantageous to use that surname rather than the other, but I have no idea if that applies in this case.

Best wishes
Lesley

[speleobat2]

Hi all,

I just had this happen with a census record for either 1871 or 1881. The mother was recorded with her maiden name and the two children with her married name. The father was at sea at the time of the census. To top it off, the children's surname Raitt was spelled Rate!

You almost have to make a list of possiblities and then check everyone of them!

Carol

[trish1]

Hi Carol

I've also had may cases in the census where women in Scotland are listed with their maiden name - very liberated I always think - but this is not a woman reverting to her maiden name - this is a woman changing her maiden name from her father's name to her mother's name.

Thank you both for the ideas - I wonder if she had a reason for not wanting to use her father's name? if he deserted the family or whatever - but it will probably remain supposition - the thought that her mother's name may have been well recognised in the area is also a possible - something may one day be found, I am always amazed at puzzles that eventually find an answer.

sorry Lesley - I didn't answer your earlier question - On both his marriage and death certificate, Kenneth's mother is called Barron whereas on his baptism & many siblings baptisms she is called Fraser - I probably should look at a couple of marriages for his siblings & see what name they used. This also leads the thought - similar to your suggestions - maybe the Rev who baptised the children knew her as Fraser rather than Barron?

Trish